When should you use a hyphen?

When should you use a hyphen?

A hyphen should be used in the following situations:

1. To join two or more words together to form a compound word, such as "well-being" or "self-esteem."
2. To divide a word at the end of a line of text when it cannot fit entirely on that line.
3. To indicate a range of numbers or dates, such as "pages 10-15" or "January-February."
4. To clarify the meaning of a word or phrase, such as "re-cover" (to cover again) versus "recover" (to regain).
5. To form certain prefixes and suffixes, such as "pre-," "re-," or "-like."

It is important to note that the use of hyphens can vary depending on style guides and specific word usage.